Companies that replaced human workers with AI are now seeing the need for human skills to improve AI-generated work. This has created a new gig economy for “slop fixer-uppers,” who refine AI-generated art, writing, and code. Lisa Carstens, a freelance illustrator, is frequently hired to enhance imperfect AI-generated logos. She shared that sometimes only minor adjustments are needed, while other times, she must completely redraw to align with the AI’s vision, which can be more time-consuming than creating from scratch.
“There are those aware of AI’s imperfections and those who come frustrated because they couldn’t achieve results with AI,” Carstens stated. “Empathy is key; you don’t want them to feel foolish, then you fix it.”
It’s not limited to artists. Kiesha Richardson, a freelance writer, reluctantly edits AI-created copy for income despite its demoralizing nature. “I need money,” said Richardson. “I’m taking the gig.” Currently, about half her work involves reworking AI content that often appears non-human. Correcting AI’s tendency for excessive em-dashes and repetitive phrases is common, along with performing her own research due to chatbots’ lack of detail.
This work doesn’t pay as well as traditional writing since companies assume it’s easier, although it often demands similar mental effort. Yet, even as AI aims to cut costs, Richardson hopes her role remains essential. “They aren’t getting what they want from AI, so hopefully we’ll stick around.”
The reality of AI’s limitations becomes clear as companies see the need for humans to sort out tech issues. Developer Harsh Kumar notices more clients returning to human expertise after experiencing AI’s setbacks. Whether fixing an inaccurate chatbot or rebuilding an insecure content recommendation function, his projects reveal AI’s shortcomings.
Kumar remains optimistic about the future, believing humans will be indispensable for long-term projects. “Humans developed AI,” he noted.
More on AI and jobs: These Strange Jobs Will Survive AI, Expert Says.
